No hike in pay of cooks under mid-day meal scheme in Punjab

Chandigarh, Sep 12: Punjab government today said there is no proposal to raise the daily wages of cooks working under the mid-day meal scheme who are paid a mere Rs 1,200 per month.

During the Question Hour in the ongoing monsoon session of Punjab Assembly here, Punjab Education Minister Daljit Singh Cheema in a reply to a question said, "Under mid day meal scheme, cook-cum-helpers are engaged on part time basis.

They are paid honorarium of Rs 1,200 per month. At present, there is no proposal under consideration of the government to increase their honorarium." Akali MLA Chatin Singh Samaon had asked if it was a fact that only Rs 33 per day was being paid to cooks as daily wage under the mid-day meal scheme in government schools in the state and if there was any proposal to raise the same.

"They are getting just Rs 33 for working 7 hours a day," rued Samaon. Another Akali MLA Deep Malhotra also demanded that the honorarium be raised. Expressing displeasure over the meager amount of honorarium, Congress members raised slogans against the Punjab government and rushed to the Well of the House seeking reply from the government.

To this, Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal said he cannot force the government to make a statement on this issue. Following the Question Hour, Congress MLA Rana Gurjit Singh levelled allegation against a 'Tehsildar' of Amritsar seeking "sexual favour" from the wife of an army man for getting the registration of plot done in her name.

An inquiry has also been set up by the DGP, but nothing has happened in this case, alleged Singh. The MLA alleged that the Tehsildar in question had the support of revenue minister Bikram Singh Majithia who rubbished the charge and asked him not to politicise the issue.

However, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on the floor of the House ordered the DGP to take action in this case. During the Zero Hour, former union minister and Congress MLA Preneet Kaur raised the issue of dispute over a land on which a Gurudwara is located.

She said that a court had ordered to give the land on which Gurdwara was situated to Punjab Wakf Board. She warned that it could lead to "bloodshed" while seeking intervention of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in this regard.

Former CLP leader Sunil Jakhar raised the issue of non-disbursement of Rs 129 crore of scholarship amount to SC students. Welfare minister Gulzar Singh Ranike said that Rs 44 crore has already been disbursed while rest of the amount would be disbursed by end of September.